Tell No Lies

by Tell No Lies (retail) (epub)

  Caelan knew she had to keep them talking. She couldn’t leave here with this man. ‘What agreement?’

  ‘Nothing for you to worry about.’ He tried to steer her towards the exit, but Caelan pulled away.

  ‘I want to know what’s going on.’

  Mulligan set his jaw. ‘I’ll tell you. We’re going for a drive. If you play your cards right, you’ll be a rich woman in a few hours’ time. If not…’

  ‘If not?’

  A smile. ‘Then we’ll have a problem.’

  ‘Marcus said—’

  He took her arm again, his grip firmer this time. She could smell him: aftershave and the scent of his skin. She had seen the look in his eyes, and it chilled her. She had misjudged Marcus Crowley – he was a coward. Ryan Glennister was weak, in thrall to his addiction. The other two had muscles for brains. This man was the real deal – cold and brutal. She knew she couldn’t go with him.

  ‘Forget Marcus.’ His voice was soft, persuasive. ‘Stick with me, you won’t regret it.’

  ‘I don’t think—’

  ‘You don’t need to.’ He smiled, but his eyes were empty. Caelan shivered, and it wasn’t part of the act. She wished she had brought a gun, and fuck the consequences. No one had patted her down, or even looked in her bag. The backup wouldn’t move in yet. She was alone, his hand on her arm, being dragged towards the stairs.

  Crowley tried again. ‘Listen, I told you I was brokering the deal.’ Caelan heard him swallow from ten feet away.

  Mulligan exhaled, as though Crowley was the most pointless creature on the planet. ‘Brokering? Really? Shut the fuck up.’ He inclined his head at his men, and they scrambled to follow. Crowley scampered after them.

  ‘He’s on his way, I thought you could discuss it—’

  Mulligan rounded on him, jerking Caelan with him, his fingers digging painfully into her flesh. ‘On his way? Who? Who the fuck have you been talking to?’

  Crowley was gabbling now, sensing he’d made an almighty mistake. ‘It’s business, you know how it is. I spoke to him after I talked to Ryan. He wanted to make me an offer, and I thought, well… we could have a drink, chat about it.’ He tried to smile, but his face didn’t want to join in. ‘Like an auction, you know?’

  Mulligan let go of Caelan’s arm. She stood still, waiting to see what would happen. There had never really been a plan, but if there had, this situation wouldn’t have been part of it. What was Crowley babbling about?

  Mulligan poked him hard in the chest. ‘You’re saying you offered my white to someone else? Who?’

  ‘I—’

  Another poke. ‘Tell me, you little shit. It was business? Who the fuck do you think you are, Richard fucking Branson?’

  Crowley smiled desperately, looking over Mulligan’s shoulder. ‘Maybe you should ask him yourself. You’re not the only one who wants to own Edmonton, you know.’

  They all heard the door closing, the sound of more feet on the stairs. Caelan shifted position, moving so her back was against the wall, the bar on her left about fifteen feet away. Ryan Glennister watched her, but stayed quiet. Mulligan turned, hands on hips, his face set in a snarl as he waited for the newcomer to appear.

  Caelan held her breath. She had no idea who to expect, but she knew it wouldn’t be anyone there to help her. Penrith would be listening intently, perhaps ordering officers to creep closer to the club. But he would wait to make his final move. He had to.

  Crowley’s eyes were wide, a fixed smile on his lips as though he was desperate for everyone to shake hands and make friends. Mulligan’s minders stood ready, waiting for a word from their boss.

  In the end, it didn’t matter. The man who appeared at the top of the stairs had a smile on his face and a gun in his hand.

  Caelan’s stomach lurched, and for a second she thought she was going to be sick.

  She recognised him, had spoken to him more than once.

  The man with the gun was Adam Waits.

  Liv Hobbs’s husband.

  36

  She couldn’t let him see her. Caelan turned her face, her legs trembling. She had no idea how Waits was involved or what he was doing here, but if he saw her, she was dead. He knew who she was, and what she was. She had no choice but to stay still and hope he didn’t notice her. Waits hadn’t spoken yet, but when he did, would Penrith recognise his voice? Had he heard it? Achebe would, but was he listening? Was she too far away from Waits for his voice to even be picked up? She had no idea, had never been told what the range of this oh-so-clever listening device was. Waits was staring at Mulligan, but if he turned his head even slightly… Caelan shuffled to her left, just a pace, keeping her eyes on the ground.

  Waits stepped forward, the gun aimed at Mulligan’s face.

  ‘Where’s my wife?’ he demanded.

  Mulligan’s lips twitched. ‘Sorry, pal. Don’t know what you’re blethering about.’

  ‘Bollocks you don’t. My wife. Liv Hobbs. Sister of Jackson Hobbs. Where the fuck is she?’

  Mulligan’s hands went up. ‘Can we slow down? I’m here to make a deal, not to have a gun waved in my face. I don’t know what you’re talking about, so why don’t you calm down and put it away?’

  Caelan took another step, aware that everyone except Mulligan was also inching away from Waits.

  ‘Don’t think I won’t shoot you, you prick.’ Waits sounded calm. Too calm.

  Mulligan risked a smile. ‘Like I said, I don’t—’

  The gunshot was deafening in the confined space. Caelan heard Mulligan scream, saw him fall before the sound registered in her brain. Blood on the floor, Mulligan clutching the outside of his thigh. Waits stood over him, his face pale, biting his lip.

  ‘Where is she?’ He sounded as though he was trying not to cry. Mulligan’s face contorted into a parody of a smile.

  ‘Don’t know what you’re—’

  Waits kicked him in the stomach. Mulligan howled at his men.

  ‘Do something, you cowardly bastards!’

  No one seemed to hear him. Crowley had vanished behind a table he had upturned. Glennister seemed frozen, cowering against the wall beside Caelan, while the two heavies had thrown themselves to the ground. Caelan shoved Glennister, nodding towards the bar. He stared back, uncomprehending. Waits raised the gun again.

  ‘Tell me where she is.’

  Mulligan was panting, sweat visible on his forehead. ‘Why do you care? You’re always shagging around.’

  Waits shook his head, his eyes wild. ‘Shut up.’

  ‘Must have been awkward for you when Jackson was sent down.’ Mulligan spat on the floor. ‘Your business partner gone, and no one to run the show. Had to get your hands dirty for a change.’

  Caelan blinked. Adam Waits had been working with Jackson Hobbs?

  Waits waved the gun, his hand visibly trembling. ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about.’

  Mulligan’s body twisted, his breathing ragged. ‘But I do. Your little friends told me. Couldn’t wait to betray you once we started working on them.’

  Caelan moved her feet again, her hand closing around Glennister’s sleeve. Looked like she was going to have to drag him. She glanced at Waits, but he didn’t seem to have even seen them. She hoped it stayed that way.

  ‘My friends?’ Waits stared down at Mulligan, swaying on his feet. He looked broken. Mulligan laughed.

  ‘The two amateur detectives you had sniffing around, trying to find out who was taking over where your brother-in-law had left off. Never knew I was stealing all your business, did you? They weren’t that fucking clever. No loyalty, either. When I got them in my workshop and they saw what I had waiting for them, they couldn’t stop talking.’

  Mulligan’s hand disappeared inside his jacket. Caelan saw the movement, wondered if Waits had. The bar was still a couple of feet away. Too far. It might as well have been ten miles. Glennister was a dead weight, holding her back. But he was a civilian, and she knew she had to protect him if she could, even if it
meant endangering herself. His eyes were rolling, his mouth hanging open. Was he about to have a fit? Caelan pushed him in front of her, almost falling over his feet as they dragged behind him.

  ‘What did they tell you?’ Waits was saying.

  Mulligan coughed. ‘Thought you wanted to know where your wife is.’

  Waits ran his free hand over his eyes. ‘I do. But I want to know what they said.’

  Mulligan smiled. ‘Rainey told me what he’d done to your wife, how she’d seduced him, begged him.’ He licked his lips. ‘How much she’d enjoyed it.’

  Caelan moved again as Waits raised the gun, his foot on Mulligan’s chest, holding him down. ‘Keep talking.’

  ‘And when you found out about it, you decided to go after Rainey yourself. Not to hurt him, but to use him.’ Mulligan took a shuddering breath, blood still leaking from his thigh. ‘You’d been working with your brother-in-law for years. Your wife, the fucking detective inspector, never suspected a thing, and you kept playing the Good Samaritan. Paramedic by day, drug dealer by night.’ Another laboured breath. ‘Depending on your shift, of course.’

  Waits pressed harder on his chest. ‘Very funny.’

  ‘Not as funny as you. Thought you were being clever, didn’t you, setting Rainey off on a mission? He thought he’d impress your wife, be a shoo-in for detective constable. He didn’t have a clue you were using him to get rid of me. He’d get his promotion, I’d be off the streets, leaving the way clear for you.’ Mulligan’s throat gurgled as he laughed. ‘I lied before. Rainey held out for quite a while. Didn’t want to tell me anything. He thought a lot of your wife. Thought you were a piece of shit, mind, but…’

  Waits was losing interest, Caelan saw. She took another step towards the safety of the wooden bar, hauling Glennister, now barely conscious, along with her.

  ‘Where’s Liv? Last chance.’ Waits aimed the gun at Mulligan’s face again.

  ‘She’s safe.’ Mulligan was still talking, but each word was an effort, his breathing more laboured with every passing minute. His leg wound was still bleeding freely. Waits didn’t seem to care.

  ‘Why did you take her?’

  ‘Why? Because I could. I knew you were working with Jackson Hobbs, and then he was out of the picture.’

  ‘Because you had him killed.’

  ‘Says who?’

  Waits glared at Mulligan, his eyes venomous. ‘Didn’t even have the guts to do it yourself.’

  ‘Prove it. Anyway, Jackson’s death did you a favour.’

  Waits shook his head. ‘He was going to be inside for years anyway. You expect me to be grateful?’

  ‘With Jackson gone, I thought you might cut your losses. Taking Liv was a safety net, in case you refused to shut up shop and piss off out of my patch.’

  ‘Your patch?’ Waits snorted. ‘Who the fuck do you think you are? Jackson’s been king around here for years. Now it’s my turn.’

  Caelan froze as Mulligan shifted position, his hand whipping through the air. Adam Waits opened his mouth to speak, but whatever he said was lost in the thunder of another gunshot. Waits staggered backwards, clutching his abdomen, blood immediately staining his fingers. Mulligan pushed himself onto his elbows.

  ‘Should have walked away when you had the chance.’

  Caelan heaved Glennister behind the bar and scrambled after him. Waits pointed a trembling finger.

  ‘Is she the one who’s got the white?’

  Mulligan managed a laugh. ‘Shot, and you still want to talk business? I’m impressed, big man.’

  Caelan kept her head down, hoping Waits would lose interest, or even better, lose consciousness.

  ‘I didn’t know you’d be here,’ Waits managed to say. ‘Crowley told me the deal was done. I was just coming to collect.’

  ‘Yeah, well, it seems he decided he’d have an auction, sell off the gear to the highest bidder, didn’t you, Marcus? Fucking stupid idea, but what can you expect?’

  Waits gritted his teeth. ‘Not much.’

  ‘I was going to take the white from the girl and not hand over a penny, but in the end…’ Mulligan fell back, but kept talking, ‘in the end, I didn’t have the chance. If she’s got any sense, she’ll get out of here.’

  Caelan stayed where she was. Where the hell was her backup? Two gunshots, not to mention the arrival of Adam Waits and the chance that he would recognise her. How much more of a hint did Penrith need?

  Slumped against the wall, Waits was coughing. ‘How about a deal?’

  Mulligan closed his eyes, then opened them wide, his face pale, the gun still loose in his hand. ‘I’m listening.’

  ‘Tell me where my wife is, and I’ll walk away, find myself somewhere else to do my business.’

  ‘This is the woman you cheated on? Changed your mind about her, did you?’

  Waits smiled, agony clear on his face. ‘Just tell me.’

  ‘What about her?’ Mulligan jerked his head towards where Caelan and Glennister were hiding. ‘Still a kilo of white out there. Don’t think she’s going to fight us for it, do you? What do you say, split it and we can both walk away?’

  Waits nodded. ‘Not sure I’m up to walking, but works for me.’

  Mulligan turned his head. ‘Erdi, get her over here. Andri, call Danzig. Mate of mine,’ he told Waits. ‘He trained as a medic. He’ll get us patched up, no questions asked.’

  Caelan sprang up, considering making a run for the stairs. With both Erdi and Andri in the way, it was a long shot, but what choice did she have? Waits might see her, but his head was bowed, blood pooling around his shoes.

  Erdi was scrambling to his feet, and she knew it was now or never. She let go of Glennister and ran.

  ‘Fucking grab her!’ Mulligan bellowed, both hands clutching his wounded leg. Caelan sprinted past him, dodging Erdi, but the other man was there, blocking the way, grinning at her.

  ‘I know you can fight, but today I’ve got the advantage.’ He pulled out a knife. ‘Better do as you’re told.’

  Caelan was on her toes, ready to unleash a kick, but she was grabbed from behind again, arms encircling her waist, and lifted off her feet. Erdi. He breathed heavily in her ear as Andri came forward, laughing.

  ‘Bet you’re regretting kicking me now,’ he said. Caelan scowled.

  ‘Not really.’

  Mulligan chortled. ‘She’s a piece of work, this one. Maybe I’ll give you a job, sweetheart, what do you say?’

  ‘She’s got a job,’ said Adam Waits.

  Caelan’s stomach plummeted.

  ‘What are you on about?’ Mulligan demanded.

  ‘Turn her around,’ said Waits. Erdi did so, Andri keeping the point of the knife just beneath Caelan’s chin. She stayed still. She could try to break out of Erdi’s grip, but his arms were like iron, and with the knife so close…

  Waits pushed himself away from the wall, staggered towards them. Caelan kept her chin down, her eyes on Erdi’s boots as he dragged her forward. Do something, she ordered herself, but she knew she was out of options. Where were the others? What was Penrith doing?

  Waits reached out, lifted her chin with a fingertip. Caelan stared back at him, all pretence gone. If this was the end, she wouldn’t be cowed.

  ‘Tell them your name,’ Waits said softly.

  Caelan met his eyes. ‘Kay Summers.’

  Waits laughed. ‘Nice one. And your real name? Your rank?’

  ‘What the fuck?’ Mulligan was trying to get up. Andri handed the knife to Erdi, who shoved it hard against Caelan’s throat. She felt the tip bite into her skin, and swallowed. She was calm, the terror of the last few seconds dissipating. Nowhere to go, and nothing to lose. Fuck you, Penrith.

  Mulligan limped over, leaning heavily on Andri’s arm. ‘What’s this about?’ he demanded.

  ‘She’s a copper.’ Waits was pale, his voice little more than a whisper. ‘I’ve met her before. She was looking for Liv. Fuck knows what she’s doing here.’

  Crowley stuck his h
ead up from behind the table. ‘A copper? But she said—’

  Mulligan turned, fired a shot in his direction. Crowley screamed, disappeared. Mulligan turned back to Caelan.

  ‘You’ve been clever, haven’t you?’ He moved closer, smiling at her. ‘Playing with Marcus and Frankie Hamilton. Blending in. That what you do?’

  It took all her effort to reply calmly. ‘Sometimes.’

  He nodded. ‘Have to say, I admire you. You’ve some fucking guts. Just a pity you’re on the wrong side.’ He took her chin in his hand, gently lifted it so she was looking at him, as Waits had. ‘Now, we can’t let you live. You get that, don’t you? You understand? Job like yours, you’d have to. Are you here on your own?’

  Caelan almost laughed. ‘Very much so.’

  ‘All right. As you know, there’s been a gunfight. Unfortunately, you got caught up in it. Collateral damage. I’m sure you understand.’ He turned away. ‘Andri. Do it. Get rid of her, and Glennister too while you’re at it.’

  Andri came forward, grinning. ‘What about Crowley?’

  ‘Him too. Then torch the place. I need a doctor.’

  Erdi marched Caelan to the wall, then let go, went to help his boss. Andri raised the gun, and Caelan stared into his eyes. He would do it, she had no doubt. She felt nothing – no fear, no regret.

  Pounding feet. Bellowing. Another gunshot.

  37

  Caelan lay back, the dressing beneath her chin itching, her stomach rumbling. Strange how a near-death experience could leave you feeling so hungry. Why she had been brought to the hospital she had no idea, but it was somehow comforting to lie quietly and think about nothing for a while.

  ‘Here you are. I’m surprised they persuaded you to stay in.’ Penrith was in the doorway, digging into a packet of crisps.

  Caelan laughed. ‘Almost losing another member of your team hasn’t put you off your food, then.’

  He collapsed into the chair by her bed. ‘Almost losing? Rubbish. We arrived in plenty of time.’

  A flashback to Andri raising the gun, the smile on his face. Caelan blinked it away. ‘Whatever you say.’

  ‘We found Liv Hobbs. She’s in a room on the next floor. They’ll keep her in for observation for a few days, but she and the baby weren’t harmed.’